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Nitrogen oxides - Nitric oxide (NO) & Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Here are four different ways chemists use to show a molecule of nitric oxide. In the colored molecule models, nitrogen is blue and oxygen is red.
Click on image for full size (19 Kb GIF)Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy Russell.

Here are four different ways chemists use to show a molecule of nitrogen dioxide.
Click on image for full size (26 Kb GIF)Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy Russell.

Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are the names of two kinds of gases. Together, they are called nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxide molecules have nitrogen and oxygen atoms in them.

Nitrogen oxides help cause some kinds of air pollution. Nitrogen dioxide combines with other chemicals to make smog. It also combines with water droplets in the air to make nitric acid. Nitric acid is one of the kinds of acid in acid rain

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